Lyrics Language Is a Virus - Laurie Anderson

Language Is a Virus

Paradise
Is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much
Better
I saw this guy on the train
And he seemed to gave gotten stuck
In one of those abstract trances
And he was going: «Ugh…Ugh…Ugh…»
And Fred said:
«I think he’s in some kind of pain
I think it’s a pain cry.»
And I said: «Pain cry?
Then language is a virus.»
Language!
It’s a virus!
Language!
It’s a virus!
Well I was talking to a friend
And I was saying:
I wanted you
And I was looking for you
But I couldn’t find you.
I couldn’t find you
And he said: Hey!
Are you talking to me?
Or are you just practicing
For one of those performances of yours?
Huh?
Language!
It’s a virus!
Language!
It’s a virus!
He said: I had to write that letter to your mother
And I had to tell the judge that it was you
And I had to sell the car and go to Florida
Because that’s just my way of saying (It's a charm.)
That I love you.
And I (It's a job.)
Had to call you at the crack of dawn (Why?)
And list the times that I’ve been wrong
Cause that’s just my way of saying
That I’m sorry.
(It's a job.)
Language!
It’s a virus!
Language!
It’s a virus!
Paradise
Is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much (It's a shipwreck,)
Better.
(It's a job.)
You know?
I don’t believe there’s such
A thing as TV.
I mean —
They just keep showing you
The same pictures over and over
And when they talk they just make sounds
That more or less synch up
With their lips
That’s what I think!
Language!
It’s a virus!
Language!
It’s a virus!
Language!
It’s a virus!
Well I dreamed there was an island
That rose up from the sea
And everybody on the island
Was somebody from TV
And there was a beautiful view
But nobody could see
Cause everybody on the island
Was saying: Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me!
Because they all lived on an island
That rose up from the sea
And everybody on the island
Was somebody from TV
And there was a beautiful view
But nobody could see
Cause everybody on the island
Was screaming: Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me!
Why?
Paradise is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much better